Garment hanger construction

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger construction formed of corrugated cardboard folded in two pieces, one of which forms a sheath and the other of which forms an extensible arm whereby the two pieces can be extended within the waistband of a garment, extended to tighten the waistband of a garment, and then locked in position by means of a straight pin to hold the garment in that form. The sheath includes a foldable hook portion which serves to support the garment from a transverse support rod of conventional type.

United States Patent 478,062 6/1892 Laubin lnventor Jerry J. SargentWalnut Creek, Calif.

Appl. No. 882,658

Filed Dec. 5, 1969 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 Assignee Levi Strauss 8: Co.

San Franckco, Calif.

GARMENT HANGER CONSTRUCTION 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 2231/95 A47j 51/097 223/87, 95, s5, s9, 94; 24/263 LS, 150, 73 LAReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,515,544 7/1950 Artley 223/95FOREIGN PATENTS 585,239 10/1959 Canada 223/95 Primary Examiner-JordanFranklin Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney-Flehr,Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert GARMENT HANGER CONSTRUCTIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION impart the semblance of pressing to thegarment in the region of the waistband.

' Upon removal of the heat treatment, the form contained within thewaistband is removed. Subsequently, the trousers are merchandised in theconventional manner.

Typically, many of the trousers or slacks merchandised are distributedto retail stores where they are stacked in piles upon tables forcustomers to make their selection. Disposition of the trousers onhangers to be hung from transverse rods or the like has been,heretofore, considered an inadequate justification for incurring theadditional expense and labor of placing the trousers on hangers.

Thus, there has been a need for an improved hanger/form constructioncapable of being employed in the heat treatment of slacks or skirtsmadefrom the resin-treated materials now available and wherein the formcan be employed also as a gar- I ment hanger for the merchant to moreadvantageously display the garments hung therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, a garment hanger constructioncapable of fulfilling the above needs has been provided comprising meansfolded to form a sheath member. An extensible member is slidablydisposed to move into and out of the sheath member. Each of these twomembers includes an end edge portion for engaging the waistband of agarment to be hung. The two members include means for locking themembers in their selected extended position within the waistband.

In addition, openings in the members are adapted to lie behind or belowthe level of the waistband to form a socket to be gripped by the thumband forefinger of each of the two hands of a person gripping andextending the two members.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved garment hanger/form construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment hangerconstruction capable of serving as a'form for holding the waistband of agarment in an extended position during heat treatment or other treatmentthereof and further serving to support the garment from a transversesupport pole or rod in the manner of a conventional hanger whendisplaying the garment for sale.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become morereadily apparent from the following detail description of a preferredembodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view,partially broken away, showing a garment hanger construction accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofa cardboard blank shown in unfolded conditionshowing an extensible arm member employed in conjunction with a sheathmember according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cardboard blank in unfolded condition showingan extensible arm member employed in conjunction with a sheath memberaccording to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the present invention iscapable of appropriate 'use with both skirts and slacks, for purposes ofdescription herein, its use with a pair of slacks 10 shall be shown forillustrative purposes. 1 I

The garment hanger construction comprises means folded to form a sheathmember 11 and an extensible arm member 12 slidably disposed to move intoand out of the sheath member 1 1.

The opposite ends of the garment hanger construction are formed toinclude edges 13, 14 of sheath member 11 and arm member 12 respectively.When the hanger construction is disposed for supporting a garment suchas the slacks 10 thereon edges 13, 14 extend downwardly and divergeoutwardly slightly so as to more positively engage the trousers. Edges14 include enlargements 16 which extend further outwardly so as toensure positive engagement at the waistband of slacks 10.

Thus, each of the members ll, 12 includes an end edge portion forengaging the waistband 17 of slacks 10.

Sheath member 11 is formed from a sheet of pervious material, such ascorrugated cardboard, in a manner whereby a sheath opening 18 is adaptedto receive the end of member Thus, referring to FIG. 2, a blank" ofcorrugated cardboard material referred to as the sheath blank 11' isprepared with three pairs of parallel scored lines of weakness 19, 20and 21. The closely spaced lines of weakness 19, 20 extend along thelength of the blank 11 between first and second pairs so as to definefirst and second jacket portions 27, 28 which, when folded as describedfurther below, will lie in confronting spaced relation 0 form the sidesof the sheath opening 18'. Thus, the jacket portions 27, 28 flank thethird pair of scored or weakened lines 21.

The base of an arcuate hook 29is attached at the region of lines 21 andlies flush with jacket portion 27. This is provided by a simple diecutting operation whereby the hook 29 is crisply cut into the surface ofthe jacket portion 27. Hook 29 includes a tab portion 29a formed toextend across both lines of the pair of lines 19 for a purpose asdescribed further below and best shown in FIG. 1. Thus, upon properlyfolding the blank 11 into the sheath member 11 as shown in FIG. 1, tabportion 29a will depend below the lowermost edge of sheath member 11whereby a person can engage the hook member 29 by'his thumb and lifthook member from its flush position in the side of sheath member 11.Ultimately, hook 29 is lifted to the position shown in phantom lines inFIG. 1 for disposing the garment hanger construction upon a transverseclothes pole for supporting the trousers therefrom.

In order to form the blank 11' into member 11, the margins 24, 26 arefolded respectively about lines 19, 20 and toward each other to aposition lying respectively flat against jacket portions 27, 28. Themargins 24, 26 are secured in this position by means of suitable glue orother adhesive as shown at 31, 32 respectively. The jacket portions 27,28 are then folded about lines 21 so as to dispose the margins 24, 26 incontiguous confronting relation and in that position, the marginportions 24', 26 are glued together so as to define the sheath opening18 located between lines 21 and edges 22, 23 while it will be apparentthat the planes of the jacket portions 27, 28 are disposed inconfronting spaced relation with respect to each other.

The extensible arm member 12 is formed from a blank 12 (FIG. 3) cut froma second sheet of corrugated cardboard formed in the shape of a T andhaving a relatively broad stern region 120. Blank 12 is folded aboutlines of weakness 33 formed by scoring or otherwise cutting short gashesin the corrugated cardboard and extending along the stem 12a. The foldedstem, as thus arranged, includes a certain degree of resiliencecharacteristic of relatively stiff corrugated cardboard having a doublefinish, i.e., finished on both sides thereof, whereby the two stemportions 34, 36 folded about lines 33 tend to expand laterally of eachother and thereby serve to hold arm member 12 in sheath opening 18 bycontact with the confronting side faces of jacket portions 27, 28.

in order to aid in the insertion of arm member 12 into sheath opening18, jacket portions 27, 28 extend rearwardly beyond the end edges ofmargin portions 24, 26 so as to provide an entry gap 37 into which theupper edge of arm member 12 can be readily positioned and, upon upwardmovement of arm member 12, the stem portions 34, 36 are forced togetherand aligned to enter sheath opening 18.

From the above, it will be readily apparent that arm member 12 slidesreadily into and out of sheath member 11 to various positions asdesired. Means for locking the two members in a preselected positionconsist simply of the straight pin 38 formed with an enlarged head 39 ofa type commonly found in pinning shirts up for retail sale.

The pin element 38 is simply forced downwardly through the perviousupper portions of the corrugated cardboard of which members 11 and 12have been made.

Openings 41, 42 in members 11, 12 respectively are adapted to lie in aposition below the upper edge 43 of waistband 17 and therefore to bepositioned to lie directly behind the waistband 17 so as to form asocket to be gripped by the thumb and forefinger of each hand of aperson gripping and extending the two members to a selected position.Thus, the openings 41, 42 serve to form a depression into which thethumb and forefinger will readily seat when the waistband is beingpulled taut.

In operation, from the foregoing, it will be readily evident that, whenthe garment hanger and form construction is to be inserted into thewaistband of a pair of slacks, the edges 14 will be disposed to engagethe folds 44, 46 adjacent the front opening of a pair of trousers andthe edges 13 will be disposed to engage the waistband 17 in the regionof the seam 47. Then, upon grasping the openings 41, 42 between theforefinger and thumb in each hand, the two members can be extended asdesired. Upon ultimate extension of the two members 11, 12, a straightpin element 38 is forced directly downwardly through the perviouscorrugated cardboard material of both members 11 and 12 so as to lockthem in their extended position.

At this time, the hook element 29 lies flush with the side face ofjacket portion 27. Thus, the trousers are properly formed at thewaistband whereby they can be heat treated or otherwise treated toimpart a permanent press. Also, it will be readily apparent that thehook element 29, not being extended or exposed, will lie safelyprotected behind the waistband of the garment whereby the garments canbe shipped in stacks to a merchandiser who may desire to engage theprotruding tab MA and lift the arcuate hook 29 out of its flush positionand dispose the garment to be hung upon a transversely extending garmentsupporting pole or other type of support Accordingly, the constructionserves the dual function of providing a basic form for permitting heattreatment or other treatment ofa garment while disposed therein andfurther permits the garment to be readily shipped and displayed laterwithout damaging the hook element 29.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger construction comprising a sheet of folded perviousmaterial having folded-under margins disposed in confronting attachedrelation forming a pervious sheath member having a sheath openingdefined between confronting portions of said sheet, an extensiblepervious member slidably disposed to move into and out of said sheathmember, each of said members having an edge portion for engaging thewaistband of a garment, the two two members being extensible to aselected position, and means for locking said members in said selectedposition, comprising an elongated common pin element stuck through saidaligned pervious members to lock said members in said selected position.

2. A garment hanger construction according to claim 1 wherein one ofsaid members carries a support hook folded alongside and into the planethereof and adapted to be unfolded out of the plane of its associatedmember about an axis lying therein to a garment supporting position.

3. A garment hanger construction according to claim 2 wherein said hookis formed from, and folded to lie substantially flush with, a side ofone member and includes a tab portion extending beyond the edge of saidmember to a position adapted to be engaged by a person's finger formoving said hook about said axis.

4. For forming a garment hanger construction, a first sheet ofcorrugated cardboard formed with first and second pairs of closelyspaced lines of weakness extending along the length of said sheet spacedinwardly of the outer edges to form outer margin portions of the sheet,a third pair of closely spaced lines of weakness extending along thelength of said sheet between said first and second pairs to define firstand second jacket portions flanking said third pair of lines, an arcuatehook attached at the region of said third pair of lines and lying flushwith one of said jacket portions, said margin portions being foldedrespectively about said first and second pairs of lines of weakness andtoward each other to a position lying respectively against said firstand second jacket portions, means securing said margin portions to theirrespective jacket portions, said jacket portions being folded about saidthird pair of lines to dispose said margin portions while spacing theplanes of said jacket portions in confronting relation, means securingsaid margin portions to each other, an extensible arm disposed in saidsheath opening between said jacket portions and movable selectivelytherein, a garment engaging edge portion carried by said arm and agarment engaging edge portion carried by said sheath, and an elongatedcommon garment pin extending through both said arm and said sheath toselectively prevent relative movement therebetween.

5. For forming a garment hanger construction according to claim 4wherein a second sheet of corrugated cardboard formed in the shape of aT having a relatively broad stem thereto forms said arm and first-namededge portion, said second sheet being folded about lines of weaknessextending along said stem, said folded stem forming said arm insertedinto said sheath opening, the folded parts of said stern havingsufficient resilience wen folded to urge the folded parts apart so as tohold the arm in the sheath.

1. A garment hanger construction comprising a sheet of folded perviousmaterial having folded-under margins disposed in confronting attachedrelation forming a pervious sheath member having a sheath openingdefined between confronting portions Of said sheet, an extensiblepervious member slidably disposed to move into and out of said sheathmember, each of said members having an edge portion for engaging thewaistband of a garment, the two two members being extensible to aselected position, and means for locking said members in said selectedposition, comprising an elongated common pin element stuck through saidaligned pervious members to lock said members in said selected position.2. A garment hanger construction according to claim 1 wherein one ofsaid members carries a support hook folded alongside and into the planethereof and adapted to be unfolded out of the plane of its associatedmember about an axis lying therein to a garment supporting position. 3.A garment hanger construction according to claim 2 wherein said hook isformed from, and folded to lie substantially flush with, a side of onemember and includes a tab portion extending beyond the edge of saidmember to a position adapted to be engaged by a person''s finger formoving said hook about said axis.
 4. For forming a garment hangerconstruction, a first sheet of corrugated cardboard formed with firstand second pairs of closely spaced lines of weakness extending along thelength of said sheet spaced inwardly of the outer edges to form outermargin portions of the sheet, a third pair of closely spaced lines ofweakness extending along the length of said sheet between said first andsecond pairs to define first and second jacket portions flanking saidthird pair of lines, an arcuate hook attached at the region of saidthird pair of lines and lying flush with one of said jacket portions,said margin portions being folded respectively about said first andsecond pairs of lines of weakness and toward each other to a positionlying respectively against said first and second jacket portions, meanssecuring said margin portions to their respective jacket portions, saidjacket portions being folded about said third pair of lines to disposesaid margin portions while spacing the planes of said jacket portions inconfronting relation, means securing said margin portions to each other,an extensible arm disposed in said sheath opening between said jacketportions and movable selectively therein, a garment engaging edgeportion carried by said arm and a garment engaging edge portion carriedby said sheath, and an elongated common garment pin extending throughboth said arm and said sheath to selectively prevent relative movementtherebetween.
 5. For forming a garment hanger construction according toclaim 4 wherein a second sheet of corrugated cardboard formed in theshape of a ''''T'''' having a relatively broad stem thereto forms saidarm and first-named edge portion, said second sheet being folded aboutlines of weakness extending along said stem, said folded stem formingsaid arm inserted into said sheath opening, the folded parts of saidstem having sufficient resilience wen folded to urge the folded partsapart so as to hold the arm in the sheath.